They were just one of a number of high-profile casualties of the reshuffle - dubbed a cull of "the white middle aged men".

Meanwhile, Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark has been named science and universities minister. He has also been named minister at the Cabinet Office - and will attend all cabinet meetings.

Mr Green has held a number of positions in the shadow cabinet, including shadow secretary of state for education and skills from 2001 to 2003, shadow secretary of state for transport between 2003 and 2004 and shadow minister for immigration from 2005 to 2010.

He was also immigration minister from May 2010 to September 2012.

Ashford MP Damian Green

Mr Green said on Twitter this morning: "To those kindly inquiring I am out but not down. Still believe everything I believed yesterday and will carry on fighting for it."

Kent Police Federation tweeted last night it was a shame Mr Green had gone, as he had been "a voice of reason" adding: "Often he would be a sole voice of reason as others tried to taint every cop."